ESPN’s Chris Broussard is criticized but keeps his job, unlike a Canadian Catholic sports anchor who also defended traditional marriage.

NEW YORK — U.S. sportscaster Chris Broussard came under fire after condemning homosexuality recently in the context of the “coming out” of pro basketball player Jason Collins, but he appears to have weathered the storm.

Canadian sports anchor Damian Goddard suffered a very different fate: Last month, a Canadian human-rights tribunal upheld his firing in 2011 for tweeting support of traditional marriage two years ago.

Now, Goddard is urging American Christians to stand up for their rights, in order to prevent the United States from following Canada’s lead in enforcing politically correct views on homosexuality in the public square and the workplace.

The pitfalls for a sportscaster in not supporting homosexuality were displayed to American audiences after Broussard made his April 29 comments on ESPN’s Outside the Lines show regarding journeyman NBA player Jason Collins’ announcement that he was both homosexual and a person whose parents had “instilled Christian values in me.”

Broussard, who covered professional basketball for several years for The New York Times before going to work for ESPN as a writer and TV commentator, said that homosexual behavior is incompatible with Christian morality, as is all sexual behavior outside marriage.

“I’m a Christian,” Broussard said. “I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is.”

His comments met with a deluge of criticism in the news and entertainment media.

“Gay young men and women have an impossibly tough time growing up and attempting to fit in, even as our culture shifts to become a more tolerant society,” said one of Broussard’s critics, Yahoo Sports columnist Kelly Dwyer. “The last thing they need is to see someone like Chris Broussard, who ESPN (and by extension, the NBA) trusts as its voice both at games and in studio, to be referring to them as sinners who are in ‘open rebellion to God.’”

A homosexual lobby group called Faithful America claimed that it quickly got 24,900 signatures on a Web petition condemning Broussard’s remarks and calling on ESPN to suspend him.

Michael Sherrard, executive director of Faithful America, told the Christian Post, “Our members are appalled that ESPN would allow one of their sportscasters to mischaracterize our faith and use the teachings of Jesus as the basis for gay bashing.”

Public Support for Broussard

But despite the negative reaction, ESPN merely expressed “regret” initially about the incident and declined to discipline Broussard.

The network might have been influenced in its stance by the positive public response to the sportscaster’s remarks. Web comments on Dwyer’s piece ran three-to-one in Broussard’s favor, for example, as did a Los Angeles Times online poll.

Nor did Broussard back down, though he did tweet about Collins’ “bravery.” He also called up a New York radio show that criticized his comments and debated its hosts about Christian morality and their claims that homosexuality was genetic.

ESPN's president, John Skipper, subsequently discussed the matter in mid-May, commenting that that the sports network “made one mistake” in its coverage of Collins’ “coming out” — in “not being more careful with Chris Broussard,” by allowing him to express “personal comments” about the matter.

Skipper elaborated that openly homosexual ESPN senior writer and columnist LZ Granderson, who also expressed his viewpoint on the same Outside the Lines segment, was allowed by ESPN “to talk from a personal point of view,” whereas Broussard was “a reporter, and it was a mistake for him to cross the line into a personal point of view there.”

Skipper added that ESPN executives “don’t quarrel” with Broussard’s right to his personal viewpoint, “although we do assert as a company that we have a tolerant point of view; we are a diverse company, and that does not represent what our company thinks.”

President Barack Obama praised him at a news conference, and he got tweets from former President Bill Clinton and from first lady Michelle Obama, who tweeted, “So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back! – mo.”

Some homosexual-rights supporters even likened Collins to Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play major league baseball, whose famous breach of the color barrier in April 1947 is said to have prompted the desegregation of the U.S. armed forces in 1948.

According to MSNBC Live host Thomas Roberts, the two pro athletes’ legacies would be “forever united now on the civil-rights front.”

Michael Brown, host of the Christian talk-radio show The Line of Fire, countered in CharismaNews that the Robinson claim was “actually laughable” because Robinson led the way for blacks to overcome discrimination in all walks of life.

Collins, said Brown, was merely following in the wake of “prominent and influential gays and lesbians like Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John, Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow.”

Damian Goddard’s Experience

The media praise of homosexuality and the vilification of its critics is to be expected, says Canadian sportscaster Goddard.

Goddard, who is Catholic, was a weekend anchor with Rogers Sportsnet, a Canadian cable network, two years ago, when he tweeted in support of “the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage.”

Although he made the comments in a private capacity, in support of a hockey agent who opposed a pro-same-sex “marriage” endorsement by National Hockey League player Sean Avery, he was out of a job the next day.

Goddard, who worked for Rogers for 15 years prior to his firing, subsequently filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission against Rogers, alleging he was discriminated against for upholding the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In a decision released in April, the commissioned rejected his complaint, “after finding no link between ‘the complainant’s religion and the termination of his employment contract,’ according to Mr. Goddard,” the National Postreported.

Goddard told the newspaper he was considering an appeal. “If we turned the tables, and someone had been fired for tweeting for gay marriage … what ground would that hold up on?” he asked.

Goddard says Canada’s media and politicians have been intimidated by the homosexual lobby, and, in consequence, the whole country is now directed by political correctness.

“It goes beyond the same-sex issue. Parliament won’t even talk about abortion or post-abortive deaths,” Goddard told the Register. “There is a real animus towards people like myself who take a stand for their faith.”

‘An Object Lesson’

Goddard was hired as a spokesman by the National Organization for Marriage to help in their fight against the legalization of same-sex “marriage” during the 2012 U.S. election cycle.

Now he is starting a Christian website called IgniteTV.ca and is working with prominent Catholic commentators Michael Hitchborn and Taylor Marshall on its content.

Comparing his experience with Broussard’s, Goddard warns that “Canada is ahead of the U.S. on the curve of intolerance, but the U.S. is moving that way. It’s time to stop it.”

Said Goddard, “What is happening in Canada is absolutely an object lesson to the U.S.: People who are sticking to their biblical beliefs are going to come under fire.”

Comments

Was it not stunning that when Collins “announced” he is Gay, national acclaim was heaped upon him with congratulatory phone calls by President and Mrs. Obama, NBA Commissioner David Stern, media elites and other notables for Collins being so very courageous, upstanding and for being a great role model.
.
On the other hand, if you mention Tim Tebow, the chorus is one-sidedly highly critical of his stand on Christian faith.
.
No doubt the long time girlfriend of Collins is pleased to have heard the “news.” So much for Collins living a lie and wasting the time of his now former girfriend.

Posted by vance on Saturday, Jun 1, 2013 9:58 PM (EST):

A standing ovation for Broussard for standing up for his Christian beliefs without apology. I wish the Catholic Church would follow Broussard’s example.

Posted by Steve on Saturday, Jun 1, 2013 1:30 AM (EST):

Why do Radio Presenters and TV Commentators all over the world, have to blurt out their own personal views about the people being interviewed anyway? Surely their primary function (which they are usually well paid to do)is simply to present the programme being aired or viewed? I find this very irritating - these presenters should rather keep their own personal thoughts/opinions to themselves! Just present the programme! What about abortion legislation in so many countries around the world, as an example…listeners and viewers of programmes are not interested in hearing the personal views of presenters…if I get that, I simply change channels or switch off! ‘Let him/her without sin cast the first stone’. Steve, London, UK.

Posted by mws on Friday, May 31, 2013 4:34 PM (EST):

Jason Collins was not courageous. He announced that he was gay when everyone was rushing to declare their support for “gay marriage”. Obama was against “gay marriage” until it was safe for him politically.
Chris Broussard is the courageous one. I wrote a letter of support for him to ESPN. He’s articulate and makes his points well. We need more media people like him.

Posted by Hanna Klaus on Friday, May 31, 2013 3:21 PM (EST):

Could we please distinguish homosexual attraction from homosexual acts? Only the act is condemned, as is any other use of the sexual faculty outside of a marital act. If one did statistics i suspect the largest number of violations are in the category of contraception. Why persons have to “come out” is another discussion. Hetereosexuals don’t hold a press conference to announce that they are heterosexual. An Irish student of ours told of joining a seminar with an unsual name. When introductions were made each person announced that he or she was gay or lesbian. The student realized that he had entered a group he had not intended to enter. When it came time to introduce himself he blurted out “I’m normal”. He was promptly ejected.

Posted by richT on Friday, May 31, 2013 1:29 PM (EST):

Chris Broussard and Damian Goddard are at least as brave as Jason Collins, wouldn’t you say? Let’s see if Mr. Obama sends them a congratulatory telegram.

Posted by Mary on Friday, May 31, 2013 1:04 PM (EST):

I ‘don’t understand why they can’t except someone who doesn’t agree with them, it seems the other side wants full control of everything. We do have to stand up for our faith and not let them rule our thinking. All we can do it pray for them.

Posted by Robert A.Rowland on Friday, May 31, 2013 11:21 AM (EST):

“They will hate you, because they hated me.” What a blessing for those who steadfastly uphold the will and judgment of God. The kingdom of heaven will be theirs

Posted by John Mainhart on Friday, May 31, 2013 11:06 AM (EST):

I object to an company’s stand on moral issues. No company can speak for its employees view since they are personal and by grouping them you violate a person’s integrity.

Posted by Julianne Olsen on Friday, May 31, 2013 10:57 AM (EST):

I believe newscasters, sportscasters, have a right to their opinion. As for me I believe Jason Collins made the announcement for attention from the media. And it worked, he got his picture on Sports Illustrated, and got paid well for it too, however, what a waste of space. Why would anyone want to publicize that he is living in sin. That’s what I believe. God created this earth and Adam and Eve. He created the holy sacrament of Matrimony, the union of a man and women in wedlock. Anyone who goes against God’s will is sinning. That is what I believe and I will always believe. I am with you Chris Broussard, God be with you.

Posted by Thdoeore M. Seeber on Friday, May 31, 2013 10:39 AM (EST):

If Collins is brave, Broussard doubly so for coming out as a Christian at the beginning of this persecution.

Posted by Fr Bill on Friday, May 31, 2013 10:21 AM (EST):

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says it all.

Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.“142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible [thought to be 1.7% of the population]. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

Posted by Bob Gehrls on Friday, May 31, 2013 9:42 AM (EST):

Happily, In the US, you can say almost anything you want without the Government interfering. But, your employer can sanction any speech he considers bad for business. The first amendment has nothing to do with being fired,reprimanded, or warned for saying something out of line via your employer.

Fault his play on the court, no problem; fault his character, problem.

Posted by Linda Nelson on Friday, May 31, 2013 8:26 AM (EST):

There sure is a lot of celebrating sodomy going on! Just stop by the downtown Denver Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception during the “Homosexual (they call themselves “gay”, but I don’t) Pride” parade that runs right in front of it. You might want to cover your eyes, ears, and body parts because of the horribly shameful things going on!

God has a totally different take on the matter than sodomites do. Look what he did to Sodom - He killed off everyone there, not just the homosexuals, committing genocide because He hates perversion so much. Catholics are urged to associate with, tolerate, and “include” their ways of communicating with the homosexual culture. Avoid it at all costs! Your soul is at stake!

Posted by Leticia Velasquez on Friday, May 31, 2013 8:00 AM (EST):

No link between Damian Goddard’s Catholicism and his support for traditional marriage?
Fellow Catholics, we need to make this perfectly clear to society; Catholics oppose homosexual ‘marriage’or more correctly, they stand for the fact that it cannot take place. Marriage can only take place between a man and a woman, all else is sham and bowing to social pressure from well funded, misnamed organizations. If more of us had stood for this fundamental principle, perhaps the Human Rights Commission would have seen the link. Our moral compromise hurts those who, like Damian Goddard, have not compromised.

Posted by Bill Sr. on Friday, May 31, 2013 7:25 AM (EST):

Yahoo Sports columnist Kelly Dwyer. “The last thing they need is to see someone like Chris Broussard, who ESPN (and by extension, the NBA) trusts as its voice both at games and in studio, to be referring to them as sinners who are in ‘open rebellion to God.’”

I would ask Kelly, are we not all sinners? Will the first few professional athletes who are without sin please report to ESPN for an interview! Hello?
Chris Broussard, as a true Christian, spoke nothing than that which Christ and his Church have been preaching for 2000 years. If that is a lie or misinformation today we are in serious trouble.

Posted by Kevin Adams on Thursday, May 30, 2013 9:32 PM (EST):

Good for you Chris!! Just remember you must be tolerant of everyone else they do not have to be tolerant to you since your a Christian.

Posted by J R on Thursday, May 30, 2013 8:42 PM (EST):

Looked up Chris Broussard Radio Interview on Youtube. He did a fine job defending his faith. At the end of the show, one of the hosts said he feels like Chris thinks he’s better than anyone and he was talking down to people. Chris did a great job. When some people, like the radio show host, hears a good argument that counters their view, they feel intimidated and, and out of frustration and defeat, don’t know how else to respond except by getting personal.

Posted by Jerry on Thursday, May 30, 2013 7:53 PM (EST):

Being gay and Atheist, I find his beliefs repugnant. Being gay and Atheist, I support his right to hold them and promote them. If the government ever came after him for them, I’d stand by his side. That, of course, is difficult in the United States because of the Constitution (in Canada, which has a different basis of law - an inferior one, I might add - people can be persecuted by the state for free speech [free speech is a joke in Canada]). Now, what a private company that gives him a paycheck does about his beliefs and his stating them, that’s up to that company. That’s also freedom. I may support a private company in firing someone for what he/she believes and says; I may oppose it - it depends upon the situation.

All that being said, I wonder how the NCR would approach a story like this if a sportscaster would say: “I’m a Christian. I believe in the bible. I believe that Catholics are not Christian but members of a cult that practices idolatry.” Or: “I’m Atheist. I believe Catholics are silly and superstitious and support a religion that has coddled pedophiles.” Would the NCR then be so equally promoting of that type of free speech? I’m sure that Donahue (sp?) guy and his Catholic League would go ballistic and ask for heads to roll, free speech be damned. You know that’s true.

If we support free speech, we can’t be selective over who gets it and who doesn’t. When people say hateful things, no matter how “deeply held by faith” it is (like this guy did), we don’t get to pick and choose over what offends us, whether it’s calling gays “sinners” and Catholics “idolaters.” Both are hateful, offensive and insulting. Don’t rationalize why one is and one isn’t.

Posted by Lorenzo on Thursday, May 30, 2013 7:50 PM (EST):

Kelly Dwyer is opposed to letting the truth be known. Rather Political Correctness is more important than the truth. Homosexual people are not sinners anymore than heterosexual people are until either one fornicates. That is the sin. Gay activists love to promote fornication lying to folks by saying to them that mutually consenting adults can have sex without giving any thought to the moral codes that faithful Judeo/Christian folks subscribe to. History is full of stories about civilizations that ignored morality and went by the wayside. Looks like we are headed for the same outcome.

Posted by Andy on Thursday, May 30, 2013 4:51 PM (EST):

Broussard’s comments were so tame. The PC police got the vapors and ran for their smelling salts on cue. I applaud his courage to speak out in a balanced, truthful way.

Posted by joe on Thursday, May 30, 2013 3:42 PM (EST):

First of all, this is old news. Secondly, he mainly condemned Collins for coming out. The problem is that people don’t understand that coming out does not mean the person is acting on the attraction. It’s fine if someone does not agree with homosexuality/same-sex marriage, he is entitled to his opinion even if I don’t agree. However, misconstruing terms in order to support an agenda is wrong. Mr. Weatherbe, while you are using this situation to oppose same-sex relationships you are further damaging LGBT people who have not come out by not supporting them. (Im not saying to support the their homosexuality, but to support them as human beings according to Church teaching)

Join the Discussion

We encourage a lively and honest discussion of our content. We ask that charity guide your words.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our discussion guidelines.
Comments are published at our discretion. We won’t publish comments that lack charity, are off topic, or are more than 400 words.
Thank you for keeping this forum thoughtful and respectful.